May 17, 2025 – Day 4 to DC – Eagle Nest, NM to Limon, CO
Here are the Vietnam veterans for today:
Bob Dorfman
USAF
Served 1967-1968
Served i Phan Rang AB
Job was Aircraft Mechanic (crew chief) F-100D
Comment: It is an honor to ride with my veteran brothers and sisters.
Bob is currently riding with the trailer platoon
Wayne Nicholls – Redcatcher
I was drafted into the U.S. Army in August, 1969. Basic Training was at Fort Ord. Advanced Training was at Fort Sill, OK for Field Artillery.
I was sent to Vietnam on 10 JAN 1970 where I joined B Battery, 2nd/40th Artillery (Airmobile) 199th Light Infantry Brigade. I returned home 10 NOV 1970 with a rank of SP4.
In 2004 I was an FNG with the Central Route. I needed a road name, so two of my Vietnam veteran brothers, after learning I had served with the 199th decided my road name of “Redcatcher.”
The 199th light Infantry Brigade were known for their success in killing or capturing the VC & NVA that it earned the nickname “Redcatcher.”
I am proud to be called Redcatcher!
I also received an email from him I would like to share:
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Yesterday I said I would get more info on the brick that is going cross country and being carried by an FNG. Here it is.
We have conducted the normal morning meeting with the pledge and the prayer. Had our auctions….
Kirk reads a bio for the day. I am not sure how he gets thru these.
They are tough to read seeing what they went thru.
Then we had a few special guests.
Michelle sent this to me:
Caeleb and Michelle are from Amarillo TX. Her parents own Nest Cabins and Marina. They invited Blake, their middle son, to stay with them during the RFTW event. That year Blake won in the 50-50 raffle. He gave half his winnings to the Army bucket. The next morning the RFTW family gave Blake over $400 as a way of blessing him for giving the earnings back. It taught him a great lesson about giving often returns back to you tenfold. The kids have attended for several years and have become very close friends with Eddie and Laura (aka Chief and Windi). Blake 9, his brother Collin 11 and sister Kate 7 look forward to this event every year.
Blake and Collin love the military and have talked about joining RFTW when they get old enough. Michelle and Caeleb are thankful for the influence of the riders to encourage these kids to server others and missions bigger than themselves, and with intentional with honoring those who make such sacrifices that ensure we get the immense blessing of freedom.
Eddie and Laura have made vest for the kids
The kids presented RFTW with a frame picture. It has been signed with their classmates and friends.
This is the part you really need to read.
This is the patch on their vests.
THIS IS OUR FUTURE!!! Thanks to Michelle and Caeleb for raise such great kids!!!
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In the platoon meeting, we go over hand signals. Here Baby Bear (Anthony) does jumping jacks. If you break down and need help, you need to get the attention of the chase vehicles. I think this would do it.
Ok Now show left turn. LOOK OUT PAPA SMURF!! Tomorrow do not stand so close. hahaha
OK let’s ride!! Little chilly today but at least no snow. Eagle Nest if over 8200 feet.
Great support as we leave town.
Hey this is Collin and Blake. How cute is that!!!
Heading down the mountain.
At the bottom of the mountain, is a Vietnam Memorial. Several of the platoons left early to visit it.
We would see a lot of road like this today. Pretty cool to see most of the pack.
We make our way to Raton. Always a great reception. It is a gas stop “plus”.
We spend about 45 minutes there and meet with the residents.
Day 4. We are getting pretty good at this organized chaos.
For a few more miles we get the NM escort. At the Colorado border we are on our own.
Thanks guys for the last few days getting us across NM
Cool ride down the mountain.
Got to have pics of this beautiful country of ours.
Not many bridges on this stretch of road, but they come out.
This is probably my favorite before we get into Pueblo.
Pueblo is sometimes a little crazy trying to get thru to lunch. NOT TODAY.
Full escort and highway shut down.. YEAH!!!
Chick-fil-a for lunch at Praise Assembly of God. Great set up.
As I mentioned yesterday, the state coordinator have a busy job:
gas stops, venues for meals, meal donations…. it does not come without a lot of coordination.
Dinner tonight was supposed to be at the high school in Limon but…
they needed to venue for the seniors. So we are on our own for dinner. The leadership team, a team I have not mentioned yet, got a lot of gifts cards from the local restaurants to give us.
Then a nice relaxing evening (well at least for some).
The ride from Pueblo to Limon was long. 117 miles and a little over 2 hours. We were not on highways but a 2 lane road. Normally this would be ok but I think the wind did not get the memo. Wind is supposed to be in Kansas not Colorado. So here are some pics from that ride.
We did see some antelope
Today with the 2 lane roads, we rode a lot in single file. Most of the time on the highway we ride side by side or staggered.
Something to know….. not worth much….hahaha
Few definitions of rider formation:
Side by Side – riders are right next to each other.
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Staggered – rider are alternate side of the road with a 1 second stagger
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Single file – right behind one another – This is done on narrow roads especially when the road guard need to pass
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Last year at the prayer service, Chaplain Howard said this poem from Kelly Strong.
I thought I would shar again.
I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
a young Marine saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so Proud
with hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd
I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, Freedom is not free.
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant “Amen”
When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of the fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
at the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington
No, Freedom is not free!!!
Temps: 37-73
Route: I-25N, Hwy 24
Miles: 301
Quotes for the day:
Some made the ultimate sacrifice.
Thank the Living, Honor the Fallen
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Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 